Sheet piling



July 3l, 1928.

H. M. MARSHALL SHEET PILING Filed Dec. 11, 1923 Patented Julyial, 192s.

`umrrp Ams Helmen M. MARSHALLDF vrcKsBURG, Mississippi.

SHEET HLING.

Application nledDecember 11, 1923. VSerial No. 680,056.

This invention relates to sheet piling, and more particularly to'an improved construction of wooden piling and the 4method of making the same.

5 lVooden sheet piling, consisting of a .series of yvertical sections, with their .edges interlocked, well known, and many types of interlockingtengues and grooves have been proposed. The sections are otten built` up from `structural units or elements,so termed and assembled as `to `provide `a tongue projecting `from one edge, Yand la groove or reoess in the opposite ed-ge, the tongues and grooves 'of adjacent sections .bein-g .arranged to .interlock so as to prevent separation of the sections. The interlocking `tongues .and grooves, above mentioned, have heretofore been formed either by nailing or bolting `separately `formedstrips ytothe sides oredges ofthe structural units, for else by shaping such units lin a Wood working machinefsuch as a planer, with a cutter :specially :shaped to produce the `particular(mul-ine of tongue or groove desired. i The first of thesevmethods is objectionable because of therelatively large amount oflabor `required teiassemble,

and nail together the `@various strips 'and units, and the second method is objection# able because of the great waste of material which yit involves,` and also, o n account of the cost of machining or planing the units.

@ne object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved sheetrpiling section made up of structural units, provided with integrally vformed tongues, andhaving all of the advantages ofthe planedor machine cut units, but with ,substantially lno waste of material -andwithmuoh lower cost of manufacture. This end I vachieve by sawing-out the structural units vfrom alrectangulargstick of timber in a novel manner, as hereinafter described. n

Another object is to providewmeans, in connection with such `an improved sheet pil- Ling section, whereby a ,jet pipe may` be .in-l sei-ted at a point between ad] acent sections, i

to aid in sinking .thesections In order that Vthe" invention may bereadily panying drawing, forming part of this specification, and inwhicht- Fig..1 is a `perspective View of one endet a rectangular Vstick of timber, havingrindicated thereon. in dotted lines, my novel method of sawing;

understood, reference is had to thefacoomtural unitdesired, and preferably equal to ionic-third the wid-th of the narrow faces.' .This saw out 1 terminates at a point spaced Figs .2, 3., 4t and 5 are similar perspective views, :showing Ythe shape of the different pieces orelements severed from the stick of timber by means of ,the saw cuts, shown in Fig. 6 is a transverse section through `two i interlocked Vsections of 'my improved piling, showing lthe method oit building up and as# sembling the same by means of structural units, 'such as illustrated iny Figs. 2, 3 and 4,

and .also showing the location oi' the jet pipe;

Figf is a series of views in'end elevation,

` conventionally showing `the successive steps such as shown in `Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a `view similar to Fig. l, 4showing howstructural elements =or units can bemade from a rectangular 'stickof timber, by means of a lesser number of saw cuts `to produce the elements shown in Figs.f2, '3. 4 and 5;l

Fi-gs. 9 and 10 are viejws similar to Figs. 2 and i3, showing the structural elements so produced, and K Fig. 1l is a 4cross section through ltwo interlocked sectionslof piling, showing a somewhat diilerent method otbuildinglup and assembling Ysuch vsections romjthe same *type of structural elements.

. Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig-s. l tot? thereof, my novel method of sawing up a rectangular stick to form structural elements will first be `described. 7

The rectangular stick, which l preferably employ, has two relatively narrow andv two relatively wide faces, and'fis designated, in its entirety., by the lreference numeral a', This stick Yof timber is divi-ded into ,theI structural units hereinafter described,` by means of saw cuts running longitudinally of the stick, `which lcuts may be made by means of an' ordinary circular saw.

II first make a cut, as indica-ted by the refen'lployed in cutting up a stick of timber,

ercnce numeral 1, at A, in Figure 7 such the same distance from the opposite narrow face that the cut is spaced from the adjacent wide face.

I next make a saw cut extending into the stick from the opposite narrow face, as indicated by the numeral 2, at B, in Figure 7. r1`his second cut is spaced an equal distance from the first cut and from the adjacent flut 'face of the stick, so that cuts 1 and 2 divide the stick into three sections of equal thickness. The second cut terminates at a point spaced from the first narrow face, a distance equal to the spacing of the first cut Yfrom the opposite narrow face, so that the stick. having the two cuts, as shown at B in Figure 7, is symmetrical.

I next make a third saw cut, as indicated b v the reference numeral 3, at C, in Figure 7, this third saw cut extending from the end of the first saw cut., out through the wide face of the stick, adjacent the second saw cut. such third saw cut being parallel with the narrow face of the stick, and crossing the second saw cut. y

As a result of this third saw cut, thestick is severed into three pieces. namely, an L- shaped piece, as shown in Figure 2, a strip substantially square in cross section, designated by the reference numeral (Z, at C, in Figure 7 and shown in perspective in Figure 5, and a rectangular piece such as shown at I) in Figure 7, smallerthan the original stick This rectangular piece D already has the saw cut 2 extending through the center thereof, to a point adjacent one narrow face.

The last step `of myV novel method of sawing consists in making a fourth saw cut +L from one wide face of the piece D, to the extremity of the cut 2, in a direction parallel with the narrow faces of the piece. This divides the piece D, as shown in Figure 7, into two separate elements, namely, a fiat board or plank 7), and a second VL-shaped piece c, smaller than the first.

These various elements are clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, in which the first L- shaped piece is indicated by the reference character a, andv comprises a web or body and an integrally formed tongue or flange a. The flat board or plank is shown att in Figure 3, and the ysecond L-shaped element is shown at c in Figure Il, and, like the element a, comprises a fiat web or body and an integrally formed tongue or flange c. The small strip of square cross section is shown at (l in Figure 5, and represents the portion cut from the two L-shaped members by means of the saw cuts 2 and 3, at the point where they cross. l

In forming a section of sheet piling from structural units of the nature above de` scribed, and shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4t, I first take two of the smaller L-shaped pieces c and assemble them back to back, with their flanges c projecting in opposite directions, as shown in Figure 6. I then place at each side of these assembled elements, oneof the flat boards b, these boards being offset relative to the elements c, so that a. space y' is provided between one edge of these boards and the flange c', and the opposite edge of the boards projects beyond the adjacent edge, of the elements c, so as to form a. groove or space 7c.. Outside of the boards I finally place two of the larger L-shaped elements (l, shown in Figure 2, with their flanges a projecting toward each other and with their opposite edges flush with the adjacent edges of the boards The relative sizes of these boards and the L-shaped elements a is such that when assembled as described, a space or groove is provided between each flange 11.', and the adjacent edge of the board as clearly shown at L in Figure 6.

Then interlocking a plurality of such sections to form sheet piling, the two opposed spaces L, just described, formed by the tongues o', constitute grooves in which the two outturned flanges or tongues c', of the adjacent section, fit. This is obvious from an inspection of Figure 6. From this figure, it will also be seen that there is a` channel or groove 7s at one edge of each section, formed between the edges of the boards b where they project beyond the edge of the pair of units c, and that this channel is not occupied by any part of the tongue of au adjacent section. This channel thus provides an ideal passage or space for the insertion of a. jet pipe, as indicated at z.

In erecting my improved piling, one section is first driven down, in the usual manner. A jet pipe z may then be inserted in the space or channel Z2, and water under pressure supplied thereto. The jet issuing from vthe lower end of the pipe serves to wash away the dirt from. the adjacent groove L of the driven pile section, and clean it out, so that the tongue or flange c of the section to be driven may readily enter said groove, and effectively interlock the sections. As the second section is forced downward into position, the water from the jet loosens up and softens the earth immediately adjacent the driven'section, and this causes the pile section being driven to be crowded against. the one already in place, by reason of the fact that the earth at the outside edge of the section being driven, not being subjected to the action of the jet, is firmer than that at the inner edge, where the jet is operating. In this way, any tendency of the successive sections to separate from the preceding ones, is effectively overcome.

From the above description, it will be secu that by means of a few simple sawing operations, I am enabledto produce, from an ordinary rectangular stick of timber, substantially without waste, a plurality ot' structural elements, all of lwhich can be employed, just as they come from the saw, for building up pile sections'with effectively lll() llt) interlocking tongue `and'groove joints. It will be particfularlynoted that the flanges a and c ,forming the interlocking tongues, constitute integral parts `of the iL-shaped members produced by my `novel method ofy sawing. It will thus be `seen that the neces'- sity` of nailing on special fstrips to iform interlocking tongues 1s avoided and falso that no planing or machining whatever fis ,re-

quired. All of the elements `or structural units sawedrom the stick f1: are utilized, with the .possible exception of the small strip, Aahandeven this, if. desired, may be em ployed to partially fill the space or passage lc. Thus, all Waste of' material is eliminated,

and I am enabled to secure .a maximunr amount of piling from a given quantity of timber. Moreover, -my improved i L-shaped members or units have comparatively wide flanges a",an d d, whichprovide interlocking tongues with unusually wide and strong engagngsulfs, th resulting an exceptionally rigid and durable construction.

I may, if' desired, cup up the original stock T of timber in a manner similar to that indicated at D in Figure 7. This is shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, in which gz/ designates an original rectangular stick of timber, and the dotted lines l and 2 indicate 'intersecting saw cuts by means of which the stick of timber' is divided. It will be seen that this method of cutting results in the production of an L-shaped member c, having an integral flange e, similar to the element shown in f Figure 2, and a flat element or board f.

In some cases, where a lighter construction is permissible, I may form my improved sections of piling from only ve structural elements instead of six, as shown in Figure 6. The method of assembling five structural elements comprising L-shaped pieces and flat boards of the character described, to form a section having interlocking tongues and grooves, is illustrated in Figure ll. By

reference to this figure, it will be seen that I take a flat board, such as f, and place it between two L-shaped units, such as e, with the flanges or tongues `e at opposite Vsides of the board, and projecting in opposite directions. ,Each L-shaped unit is offset, relative to the central board, so as to provide a groove or channel z' between each flange e and the adjacent edge of the board To the outside Vof each L-shaped `member thus assembled, I secure'a flat board g, wider than the board f, and so disposed that one edge is flush with the outer edge of the flange e', and the other edge is substantially in the same plane as the adjacent edge of the board f.

From an inspection of Figure l1, it will be seen that when the two sections are assembled, one flange or tongue e of each section enters the groove z' of the other section,

the two tonguesl e thus being in engagement with .each other, .fand the sections being thereby .securely interlocked. The projecting edges of fthe vboards g constitute ;the outer walls of fthe grooveand prevent the separation ofthe tongues c', as is obvious.

`By further reference to Figure ll., .it will be -seenthat spacesior passages 0 are formed, adjacent `Vr`the endr of Aeach fLshaped elemente, between the board-s .f Vand g. These `spaces may be used :to Areceive -a jet pipe, .as shown in Figure 6, or, if deired, maybe filled with cement, as indicatedin Figure ll. In Figure 6 `I have shown .thestnueturall unitsmak ing up my improved section -as held `together by means of bolts m, and in Figure ll, I haue shown the units as held togetheriby means of nails a. Either of ithese, or any other known Vmethod of' fastening, .mayof ceurse be employed inieither type '.of Leonstruction. p p y.

`It :will thus'he seen that 'I haveideviised-a novelniethod of' sawing upiordfinairy ltimber into structural units, which units may be utilized in the construction ofk improved piling sections, without waste and with a minimum amount of labor, and which units comprise L-shaped `elements havin in tegrally formed webs and flanges, the figanges serving as interlocking tongues, and the sections having spaces to receive jet pipes, and it Vis thought that the many advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated, without further discussion.

Vhat I claim is l. A wooden sheet piling comprising a plurality of` sections, each section being built up wholly by fla-t boards and wooden pieces L-shaped in cross-section, each of said pieces consisting only of a Web and a flange arranged at right angles and integrally united, the length of' the flange of each piece being vsubstantially equal to the thickness of said lup Wholly of flat boards and pieces L-shaped in cross-section, each piece being formed by a web and a flange arranged at right angles, and integrally united, the lengths of the flange of each piece being substantially equal to the thickness of the web and of said flat boards, and each section comprising at least one pair of such pieces and at least two flat boards, said L-shaped pieces and boards being rigidly secured together in assembled relation in such manner that one of the ilat boards is interposed between the pair of L- shaped pieces, the latter being reversely disposed with the flange of each directed to Ward the plane of the web of the other, and the edges of said board being spaced from said flanges a distance equal to their thickness, whereby each section is provided at its edges with a tongue and groove, the grooves and tongues of adjacent sections being constructed to interlock.

3. In a wooden sheet piling, a section having an interlocking tongue and groove at each edge thereof, said section including a pair of integrally formed Wooden pieces, L- shaped in Cross-section, each consisting of a web and flange only, said L-shaped pieces being assembled with their flanges extend ing in opposite direction and their Webs parallel, and with a flat board interposed between their Webs, the length of the ilange of each piece being substantially equal to the thickness of the web and of said flat board, the width of said board being no greater than the length of saidv Webs, and its edges being spaced from said flanges a distance equal to the thickness of the flanges.

4. In a Wooden sheet piling, a section having an interlocking tongue and groove at each edge thereof, said section being made up of two pairs-of integrally formed Wooden pieces, L-shaped in cross-section, each consisting of a web and flange only, one pair of said L-shaped pieces being assembled back to back with their flanges extending in opposite directions, and the other pair being disposed with their flanges extending toward each other, and with a flat board interposed between the webs of each of said second pair of pieces and one of the first named pair.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HORACE M. MARSHA I ill. 

